Carlisle's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.
The population reached nearly 110,000
In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Carlisle increased by 6.7%, from just under 101,000 to 108,000.
The addition of almost 6,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).
In 2011, Carlisle was home to, on average, 0.74 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.
Population density was lower than the average across the North West
Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)
- Rest of the North West
- Carlisle
- Average across England
An older Carlisle
Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.
Between the last two censuses, the median age of Carlisle increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.
This industrial area had a higher average age than the North West and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).
The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.
About 12% of people in Carlisle are aged between 60 and 69 years
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Religion in Carlisle
The number of people in Carlisle that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to about 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 23% of the local population.
The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).
The number of people in Carlisle that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 81,000 in 2001 to about 74,000 in 2011 (from 81% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 7,800 to about 7,300 (from 7.8% to 6.8%).
Just under 460 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 240 in 2001 (0.4%).
The population without a religion in Carlisle increased by 12 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by religion, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Disability in Carlisle
The percentage of Carlisle residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.9% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.
In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of Carlisle residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.
The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.
The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West
Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Rise in private renting
The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Carlisle at a faster rate than in Eden (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Carlisle).
In Carlisle, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Eden increased from 13% to 16%.
Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.
The rate of social housing in Carlisle fell from 18% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70% to 68%.
Private renting in Carlisle increased by 6 percentage points
Percentage of households in Carlisle, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Health improved
The percentage of Carlisle residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.7% to 6.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.
Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.
In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Carlisle residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.
The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.
These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.
The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Carlisle decreased by 3.7 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in Carlisle, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
More homes without children
The percentage of households without children increased in Carlisle at a faster rate than across England.
In Carlisle, the proportion of households without children increased from 63% in 2001 to 65% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.
Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59% to 61%.
The proportion of households with children in Carlisle fell from 27% to 26%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10% to 9.7%.
The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West
Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Carlisle
- Average across England
More people cohabiting
The percentage of households in Carlisle, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.6% to 9.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.
In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households had only one person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Carlisle which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 33%.
The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.
The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Carlisle increased by 2.1 percentage points
Percentage of households in Carlisle, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
More adults are separated from partners
The percentage of adults in Carlisle that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.
In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Carlisle increased from 27% to 32%.
The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.
The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North West
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Carlisle
- Average across England
Change in work hours
The percentage of employed people in Carlisle working less than 16 hours increased from 1.8% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.
In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 14% in 2001.
The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.
The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Carlisle increased by 1 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Carlisle, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Ethnicity in Carlisle
The number of people in Carlisle from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 100,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.
The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).
The number of people in Carlisle from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 460 in 2001 to about 1,200 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 300 to about 540 (from 0.3% to 0.5%).
Just under 150 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 70 in 2001 (0.1%).
The population from the White ethnic groups in Carlisle remained close to 98%
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Change in unpaid care
The percentage of Carlisle residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.
The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.
The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.
The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Carlisle remained close to 1.3%
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by care, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Changing work life
The percentage of Carlisle residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 3.6% between the last two censuses.
In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54% in 2001. While the percentage of Carlisle residents that were self-employed increased from 8.2% to 9.2%.
The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.
The rate of unemployment was lower than across the North West
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Carlisle
- Average across England
Area report data
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